New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-08
10Y N ENGLAND.


The Presidents message is hailed in England
as the consummatc flower OF American states
manship. This is natural. proposal Tor
scaling down the tariff schedules and opening
market for English manufacturers In u
Nation of 60 OOOO consumers is a species OF
craftsmanship that will readily be appreciated
in London. The Presidents fame Is secure
in England The enemies of American indus
t1y recognize in him a powerful ally and
faithful friend. From the English point OF
view he is an ideal foreign statesman and
why? Because his policy of hostility to the
economic system under which American IN
dustrics have been built up and multiplied
tends to promote the manufacturing and com
mcrcial interests Of England.
Tho English culogics are accompanied by a
bit of clnting by-play that is very amusing
Several of the London journals profess TO be
alarmed by the prospect Of American compcti-
ton on the basis OF free trade Lord Over
stone is cited as having predicted that the Inst
great blow TO the commerce OF Great britain
would be struck whenever free trade should be
adopted by the United States. Other English
statesmen among them Mr.. Bright and Mr.
Chamberlain. are quoted rs fofcShadowng the
nrostration of British manufactures by tho
competition of Il frcc-tradc America. Some
Of these journals affect belief IN these gloomy
forecasts and with mlancholy AIR accept
Americas gain under free trade a. England ;
inevitable loss
This has been the average English manu-
facturcr's argument for many years, and New
York importers have reproduced 1t with an
atIectation of candor. we do not want YOU
Yankees to adopt free trade" they have sad
in effect: we dread American competition
under free trade because YOU are CERTAIN 10
beat us in the long run and to deprive Us oil
our own markets. 1t is for our interest To have
the tariff remain a. 1t Is. Tor American free
trade viii be- the dcath-blow To English manu-
featuring" This is the way IN which these
foreign manufacturers and their American
agents have discussed this subject Ion years.
But no sensible American has taken them at
their word How was it possible to believe
them when they said that American cctlldc
would prove rulnouS 10 England when they
were doing everything in their power To break
down the talin ana get possession of the Amer
lean market? Why have the Golden tracts
been scattered broadcast in the nlcd states,
II the BRUSH manufacturers " n' para i'l
printing and circulating them stood IN mortal
dread of American competition under free;
trade? II these foreign Interests had seriously
anticipatcd disastrous results nom Such com
petition. there woull not have been such per
si,tcnt activity on their part in lcyclns the
tariff.
The English people have never been blind
| 10 their own interests ~ their commercial m
tcrcoursc with the world. II they are de
| GIFTED with the prospect Of free trade with
America opened by the Presidents message.
! they are not 70 be credited with a spirt OF
| scir-saciilcc and abaSclGr't which they have
never vet displayed in their commercial deal
incS They are not wc may be sure. lcJolcinG
over their own prospective disasters. Inc!
are quietly rubbing their hand, and counting
their own profit, over the coming destruction
Of American industries.